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18th
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Your iPhone is a work of art. Engineered to be both aesthetically pleasing and usable, the iPhone was designed with the user in mind. Or was it? I don't know about you, but those flimsy little buttons to lock and mute my iPhone4 are bloody annoying. And that glass back? Yeah, I cracked that ages ago. Super practical, guys; thanks.
So, what's going through the mind of designers and engineers when they put together items like the iPhone, your microwave, your TV or the car in your driveway? In some cases, it's clear that function wins out over form, but more often than not I see form taking precedence over all, and that's not necessarily a good thing.
Take for example the Mercedes-Benz GL-Class. You'd think this behemoth of an SUV would have practicality and usability written all over its massive flanks -- and, in essence, it does. However, one small detail left me scratching my head and wanting to ask Mercedes: “Why?!”
Equipped with a specific package, the GL had power-folding seats in both the second and third rows. At the touch of a button the seats would fold or unfold themselves -- a great feature if you've got a big family with lots of people moving in and out of each row. But what happens when you add a baby seat to all of that (a likely scenario for a large family)? Well, that's where it gets dicey.
The headrests in the second row are so massive that my baby seat was being pushed a good 3” off the backrest (no good). So, I tried to remove said headrest. No matter what it wouldn't budge. Online research revealed that this is a major issue with the GL-Class: The headrests are not removable on the power-folding seats.
How does that make sense? Such a simple thing could make a huge difference in a family's life, and ultimately in their decision to buy a certain vehicle.
The Acura ZDX is another prime example of (horrible) form over function. The rear door openings are so severely angled you are guaranteed to smash your head every time you get in or out, unless you're an expert yoga practitioner and can fold your body perfectly in two as you slide in.
You like turning knobs to adjust volume, temperature, or browse radio stations? Don't get into a Fiat 500 or a Lincoln MKX; you'll only be greeted with a multitude of buttons to push or touch-sensitive panels, respectively.
I get the appeal of designing something that looks spectacular; sex sells, after all. Engineer and design a car that looks stunning and you've won half the battle, but is it worth sacrificing practicality especially when it comes to vehicles that are supposed to be practical (like the GL-Class)?
There is no such thing as a perfect car or a perfect phone for that matter, but there are levels of perfection that can be attained by paying attention to everyday user struggles and addressing those while still keeping the product attractive.
That's what redesigns and updates are for, and I look forward to every new vehicle that hits the market, eager to see the form vs. function battle rage on.
So, what's going through the mind of designers and engineers when they put together items like the iPhone, your microwave, your TV or the car in your driveway? In some cases, it's clear that function wins out over form, but more often than not I see form taking precedence over all, and that's not necessarily a good thing.
Take for example the Mercedes-Benz GL-Class. You'd think this behemoth of an SUV would have practicality and usability written all over its massive flanks -- and, in essence, it does. However, one small detail left me scratching my head and wanting to ask Mercedes: “Why?!”
Equipped with a specific package, the GL had power-folding seats in both the second and third rows. At the touch of a button the seats would fold or unfold themselves -- a great feature if you've got a big family with lots of people moving in and out of each row. But what happens when you add a baby seat to all of that (a likely scenario for a large family)? Well, that's where it gets dicey.
The headrests in the second row are so massive that my baby seat was being pushed a good 3” off the backrest (no good). So, I tried to remove said headrest. No matter what it wouldn't budge. Online research revealed that this is a major issue with the GL-Class: The headrests are not removable on the power-folding seats.
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| Photo: Mercedes-Benz |
How does that make sense? Such a simple thing could make a huge difference in a family's life, and ultimately in their decision to buy a certain vehicle.
The Acura ZDX is another prime example of (horrible) form over function. The rear door openings are so severely angled you are guaranteed to smash your head every time you get in or out, unless you're an expert yoga practitioner and can fold your body perfectly in two as you slide in.
You like turning knobs to adjust volume, temperature, or browse radio stations? Don't get into a Fiat 500 or a Lincoln MKX; you'll only be greeted with a multitude of buttons to push or touch-sensitive panels, respectively.
I get the appeal of designing something that looks spectacular; sex sells, after all. Engineer and design a car that looks stunning and you've won half the battle, but is it worth sacrificing practicality especially when it comes to vehicles that are supposed to be practical (like the GL-Class)?
There is no such thing as a perfect car or a perfect phone for that matter, but there are levels of perfection that can be attained by paying attention to everyday user struggles and addressing those while still keeping the product attractive.
That's what redesigns and updates are for, and I look forward to every new vehicle that hits the market, eager to see the form vs. function battle rage on.